How Much Space Does Your Event Need? A Practical Calculation

The question that reaches us too late is: "the hall is booked, how much fits inside?" The answer is usually less than the family expects. This guide reverses the order: calculate first, then book.

Square metres per guest

For a seated event with table service, allow one and a half to two square metres per guest. That covers the table, the chair, the walkways and room for service to move.

Two hundred guests therefore need between 300 and 400 square metres for seating alone — before the kosha, the stage, the entrance, the cake table and the DJ.

For a standing reception the figure drops to between one and one and a quarter square metres per guest. But be careful: too few seats at a long event becomes a complaint after the second hour.

Subtract what cannot be used

The area written in the contract is not the usable area. Subtract the depth of the kosha and stage — usually four to six metres across the full wall · the main walkway · the buffet and the queue in front of it · any columns, because a table cannot sit around one · and emergency doors, which cannot be blocked.

In a hall advertised at 500 square metres, the real seating area may be 350. That is not a fault in the hall, but it has to enter the calculation.

Ceiling height limits what can be built

A ceiling under four metres rules out tall koshas, hanging lights and arched entrances. Under three and a half metres, ask about lighting before anything else, because moving lights need throw distance to work.

Ask about power points and their capacity too. Lighting, sound and catering draw more than older venues expect, and losing power mid-entrance cannot be fixed on the night.

Ask about setup time before you sign

This clause is always forgotten and costs the most. A medium kosha needs four to six hours to install, a large one more. If the venue allows access only two hours beforehand, you are limited to particular designs regardless of budget.

Ask about clear-out time as well, and who pays the late penalty. Many post-wedding disputes come from this unwritten line.

Quick estimates

100 guests: 150–200 m² seating · 10–13 round tables
200 guests: 300–400 m² · 20–25 tables
300 guests: 450–600 m² · 30–38 tables
500 guests: 750–1,000 m² · 50–63 tables

These are for full seating with service. Add the kosha, the entrance and the buffet on top.

How we work at Altahany

We work across every emirate and know many of the halls and their dimensions. Send us the venue name or its measurements, the guest count and the date, and we will come back with a first layout: how many tables, which kosha size suits the stage wall, and what will not fit.

If the hall is not booked yet, that is the best moment to ask — changing the venue is far easier than changing the guest list.

في التهاني لخدمات الأفراح نساعدك على تحويل الفكرة إلى حجز متكامل: اختيار الخدمة، مشاهدة الأعمال، طلب عرض السعر، التواصل عبر واتساب، ثم تثبيت تفاصيل المناسبة خطوة بخطوة.

At Altahany Wedding Services, we help turn inspiration into a complete booking journey: choose a service, view real work, request a quote, contact on WhatsApp, and confirm event details step by step.